A pretty river through beech/podocarp forest. A continuous series of fun rapids and fun features formed by papa shelves making drops between half a foot to 6 foot high. Easy access, nice bush, and an online gauge just downstream.
Thanks to Jamie Mcaulay for the trip information and photos.
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Access:
From the Tawanui Campsite, the Catlins River track runs alongside the river most all of the way and allows really good scoping of key rapids as you walk upstream. This track is flat and easy, but winds it’s way around quite a bit – walk time about 12kms ~ 4 hours. It is also possible to drive to the put-in (but then why did you buy a packraft?)
It’s a rain run: flows and gauge info.
Its likely this is a ‘rain run’ where you need a bit of a storm, and to catch a good flow as the river is dropping. These ideas are based off two visits; please record your experiences in the comments so we can update the flow suggestions for this page:
The Catlins river at Houipapa gauge is a few kilometers downstream of this section. The records show a median flow of 2 cumecs, and spikes of 15-90 after storms.
The flow was 7 cumecs for the information and photos provided below. Jamie has previously scouted this river at 5 cumecs and thought it wouldn’t go.
It appears that it could go nicely with a bit more water, with some of the larger features (drops) would perk up a bit, while the smaller ones may wash over.
Middle section, Catlins River (III): Chloris Stream to Tawanui Campsite.
At 7 cumecs, it was a series of Class II rocky sections and small drops, half a dozen good II+ features, and 3 Class III drops, with short pretty sections of flat water between.
We are at the low end of the intermediate skill level, portaged 3 drops (two uncertain holes and one bigger drop) and got out of boats to scout about 4 other rapids. All features are very easy to portage, with loads of good eddies and space to stop at that flow. Good bail options with the track close by.
Where the track re-joins the river downstream of Pukepiko there are three drops in a row – these are visible from the track looking upstream.
In heavier flows, a short section of rock garden where the river is away from the track, between Franks Stream and Wallis stream (3km’s downstream from Pukepiko) could pick up quite a bit. This section is one of the only parts not visible from the track as you walk upriver, in heavier flows could be worth a bush bash off the track to check out how it’s looking. The rest is all very much how it looks from the track.
Our paddle time was 4 hours at a relaxed pace.
Oct 27 2024
The Flow
On the 26th it rained steady all day and night, seeing the flow begin to rise overnight from 4 cumecs at Houipapa. 0600 on the 27th flow had spiked to 10 cumecs and by 1400 was peaking at 15.5 cumecs. We put in around 1440 on the 27th at peak flow of ~15.5 cumecs — a bit more flow would also be welcome. The rapids at 15.5 cumecs looked surprisingly similar to those in the pictures from the trip description. By 1400 on the 28th flow was down to 10 cumecs and decreasing.
The Pack
Departed Dunedin 0815, good roads all the way to Tawanui Camp Ground. Started our pack 1015 from the trail head of the Catlins River Walk, we packed 11.25 km up river in drizzle and scattered showers, great tramping all the way with a few cable bridges for fun (3 hrs with a standing luncheon). We elected to convert around 1415, prior to the last majour hill and divergence of the trail from the Catlins River again. Put in by 1440, possibly better locations a bit prior to the straight narrow steep banks we chose, but it was fine.
The Raft
Beautiful old growth beach forest lines the river as it winds along the Catlins River valley. Constant intrigue with wave trains, GI and GII rapids, very few moments with nothing happening, but at the same time it wasn’t overwhelming. Three GIII features, 2 drops and one shoot. Easily scoutable and low consequences with the right line – all can be a straight shot not requiring and cross-current manoeuvres. The second GIII feature — the shoot — is amazing. You can easily do laps on all three features. Total paddle time was 4 hours at a leisurely pace with some hot laps on the GIII features and the necessary scouting.